Leader Ali Bapir Headquarters Arbil, Iraq Political position Right-wing | Founded 2001 Ideology Islamism Seats in the Council of Representatives of Iraq: 3 / 328 | |
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Kurdistan Islamic Group (Kurdish: کۆمهلی ئیسلامیی کوردستان / عێراق Komelî Îslamî Kurdistan / 'Êraq; Arabic: الجماعة الإسلامية الكردستانیة / العراق al-Jumāʿa al-islāmiya al-Kurdistaniya - al-ʿIrāq) is a small Islamist movement in Iraqi Kurdistan. Established by Ali Bapir in May 2001. Bapir is a former leader of the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan.
Contents
Kurdish authorities have frequently arrested members of KIG. In 2015, family members of the KIG leader Ali Bapir were arrested for making Islamic propaganda.
Activities
Regarding their political party position in relation to other political parties, in an interview in January 2003 Ali Bapir stated:
"Our policy is that we enter into fraternity and cooperation with all Islamic groups. We seek such fraternal relations with Islamic parties and organizations, Islamist figures, and groups that follow a Salafi tradition or a Sufi or a scientific tradition. In the Komala Islami, we believe that the group must be open-minded and seek fraternity with all those who call or act for Islam. If we see a mistake, we will try to correct it through dialogue and by creating a fraternal atmosphere."
Elections
In the Iraqi legislative election of January 2005, it decided to run independently from the main Kurdish coalition. It received over 60,000 votes (about 0.7%) and two seats in the transitional National Assembly of Iraq. After the elections, the party agreed to join the Kurdish alliance's National Assembly caucus.
At the same time, it won 85,237 votes and 6 Kurdish National Assembly seats in the Kurdistan election on the same day. In the Local elections, that day they won 18,781 votes (2.9%) and 1 seat (out of 41) in Hawler as well as 53,088 votes (7.3%) and 3 (out of 41) seats in Silemani.
In the Iraqi legislative election of December 2005 they decided to join the Kurdish coalition and were allocated one seat.
In the Iraqi Kurdistan legislative election, 2009 they formed a coalition with the Kurdistan Islamic Union, Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party and the Future Party, called the Service and Reform List. The list came third in the election winning 240,842 votes (12.8%) and 13 (out of 111) seats.
In the Iraqi legislative election, 2010 they formed their own independent list. Despite a numerous of campaigns, numbers of their members collapsed and they received only 152,530 votes (1.32%) and 2 seats (one in Hawler and one in Silemani),